Michigan Catholic

People are still on the Motu Proprio watch, with rumors predicting tomorrow or May 5th.   However, this is completely in the Pope Benedict’s hands and at his discretion.

One caution:  Be careful of articles, some of which we’re seeing already, trying to second-guess the pope over whether such a decision will be good for this or that group–ie. the Jews, the Evangelical Protestants, ecumenism, and so on. These are merely thinly veiled attempts to derail the release or politicize its appearance negatively. Expect the press to go ballistic when they believe the release is imminent.

There was a meeting of all the curia heads Saturday morning in Rome, 10AM their time.  The meeting was unannounced beforehand.  I don’t think Pope Benedict called it to wish himself “happy birthday.”   Something major is about ready to happen in the next week or two, I think.

Vatican Website

From CNS, the USCCB’s news division, comes this: 

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Sometime soon, Pope Benedict XVI is expected to broaden permission to use the Tridentine Mass, a long-standing request of traditionalists who favor the rite used before the Second Vatican Council. 

See the rest of the article for more.

Una Voca, an organization faithful to Rome, is offering a workshop in June to teach priests how to say the Latin Mass.  Follow this link for more information!

Here is Una Voca’s regular website.

Announced by the Holy See today—The long-awaited Apostolic Exhortation will be released next Tuesday, March 13th, about noon, Rome time.  This means about 6AM our time. 

From the Vatican website:

“PRESENTATION OF POST-SYNODAL DOCUMENT ON THE EUCHARIST VATICAN CITY, MAR 6, 2007 (VIS) - In the Holy See Press Office at 11.30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 13, the presentation will take place of the post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation “Sacramentum Caritatis” on the Eucharist, source and summit of the life and mission of the Church. Participating in the press conference will be Cardinal Angelo Scola, patriarch of Venice, Italy, relator general of the 11th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, which was held in October 2005, and Archbishop Nikola Eterovic, secretary general of the Synod of Bishops.
OP/APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION/…VIS 070306 (100)”

This document has been expected for some time but was delayed because of the death of Pope John Paul II, of blessed memory.  It’s expected to contain some instructions on the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

It is not known at this time whether the much-mentioned Motu Proprio concerning freedom for the Missal of Paul V will be included in this document or will follow by some interval. 

 We are also waiting for the new translations of the Mass, but they are yet a bit down the road–1 to 2 years. 

Incidentally, I have been informed that under the old calendar, March 13th was the feast day of St. Benedict.  I don’t think this is a coincidence. 

More discussion on the Apostolic Exhortation that’s expected soon from the Vatican…..and also the rumored Motu Proprio for the Tridentine….

at Rorate Coeli and at Fr Z’s siteAnd from Envoy Magazine:

“Another notable newsworthy item that Msgr. Schmitz delivered at his February 19, hour-long presentation during the question-and-answer period was that Archbishop Piero Marini, whom many had speculated would have been removed long ago, has finally accepted another assignment.

“The Pope is before all else, a gentlemen,” Msgr. Schmitz said, clarifying for many Catholics in the room why this particular step has taken as long as it has. Vaticanists have expected this move ever since the beginning of Pope Benedict’s pontificate. Msgr. Schmitz did not give any details as to the nature of Archbishop Marini’s new assignment.

As Cardinal Ratzinger, the current pope was openly critical of the style of many of the public liturgies for large gatherings of people during Pope John Paul’s world travels throughout his pontificate. Archbishop Marini, a reported disciple of Archbishop Annibale Bugnini, the primary architect of the post-conciliar liturgical reform, was the mastermind behind these creative” liturgies.”

This is very important because many parishes took their cues as to what was allowable from the atmosphere of the televised masses orchestrated by Abp. Marini.  Soon you should see more reverence and better music on those televised masses.  

[See Envoy Magazine's Front Page here.]

More news from Fr. Z (late night Roman time)…….